Admit it, you’ve pulled into a gas station before only to panic. You couldn’t remember which side your fuel filler is on and didn’t want to pull up to a pump facing the wrong way. You have a Ford engineer to thank for ending this nightmare. However, he has unfortunately passed away. 

Ford engineer responsible for the gas tank arrow passes away 

Sometimes, I might review nearly 60 cars per year. As a result, I’m always heading to the gas station in something new. But I don’t have to panic over forgetting which side the fuel door is on, thanks to James Moylan. 

This is the legendary Ford engineer who is responsible for inventing the arrow by your fuel gauge, which signals which side the fuel filler is on. It’s actually known as the Moylan Arrow. 

The invention allows drivers to pull up to gas stations with confidence as they approach the pumps on the correct side. Moylan wanted to end the frustration of not knowing which side the gas stank was on, especially in rental cars. 

He came up with the idea on a rainy day in 1986 when he pulled a company car up to a pump facing the wrong side. The idea hit him as he got soaked as a result of the mistake. 

His idea quickly spread among Ford vehicles and others as it exploded in popularity. According to Automotive News, Moylan passed at 80. 

You may hear things like European cars put the gas tank on the left side, but American cars have them on the right. But this is false. 

The side of the gas tank often changes based on how a vehicle is designed. Engineers place the tank and filler neck to properly fit around other components like the exhaust or suspension. 

Some auto manufacturers prefer to put the gas tank on the passenger side to improve safety. This way, drivers are standing away from traffic if they run out of gas. But this isn’t always standard.